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The 2025 Virginia General Assembly began at noon Jan. 8 in Richmond. This year, we’ll see a “short” session of only 30 days, which can be extended to 46 days by a vote of the legislature.
Bills will move quickly through the House of Delegates and Senate during 2025’s short session. Our representatives will have little time to decide which bills will receive their support, and with both the state and nation undergoing political transitions this year, it is important that you use your voice as a constituent to speak with or write to your legislators about the issues that matter to you and the changes you would like to see made.
I’d like to highlight one upcoming opportunity to engage with your legislators. The Virginia Data Center Reform Coalition is hosting a Data Center Lobby Day on Jan. 20. Register on Eventbrite to attend and advocate directly to legislators in Richmond about smarter data center development.
Below, I’ve provided an overview of the topics that PEC has its eye on this session: data center reform, land conservation and public access, solar implementation, housing and local land use authority. Then, I’ve included information about several opportunities to lobby with other advocates on these critical issues.
Keep an eye out for an email from me in the coming weeks regarding the status of key bills.
Priority Topics
Data Center Reform
Virginia holds the world’s greatest concentration of data centers, which require huge amounts of energy, land and water. Energy infrastructure to power data centers is being subsidized by residents and small businesses; household energy bills are expected to more than double over the next 15 years solely to serve this demand. Virginia recently commissioned the independent Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to outline some of the impacts of the data center industry across the state. It concluded that energy demand from data centers is unprecedented. Still, further analysis is needed to assess the cumulative impacts of energy infrastructure on local watersheds, air quality and communities.
We are pushing for comprehensive reform of the data center industry around four pillars:
- Enhanced transparency around emissions and energy and water usage
- State oversight of the regional impacts on the grid and the environment
- Ratepayer protection that ensures energy infrastructure costs associated with data centers is not being subsidized by other customers
- Utilization of the state sales and use tax exemption to incentivize strong sustainability standards
Energy & Climate
This session, we expect legislators will push for more energy generation of all kinds to serve the escalating demand from data centers, as well as increased energy efficiency and battery storage options. We support legislation around battery storage, solar on the built environment and small-scale agrivoltaics alongside strong environmental reviews on new power generation facilities.
Solar energy generation — through distributed generation on rooftops, parking lots and brownfields, or utility-scale projects on rural lands — will be key to meeting Virginia’s clean energy goals. However, these necessary developments face challenges. Large-scale solar is not without its risks, and we will advocate for practices and processes that mitigate the negative impacts of these necessary installments. Meanwhile, existing and pending utility hurdles limit the adoption of smaller distributed solar projects. Without thoughtfully building our capacity in solar energy, fossil fuel generation will increase the burdens on communities and natural resources.
Conservation
This session will offer an unprecedented opportunity to create an Oak Hill State Park, conserving an incredible 1,240-acre gem of open space in central Loudoun County. Brimming with cultural importance and featuring the well-preserved home finished in 1823 by President James Monroe, Oak Hill’s historic significance is only matched by the breadth and beauty of its miles of river frontage and expansive fields and forest. The opportunity to secure the property for public access — so close to the 3 million residents in Northern Virginia — is remarkable.
We also expect Virginia’s Great Outdoors Act, which did not pass last year, to be reintroduced. This ambitious bill would build on the success of the Land Preservation Tax Credit program and the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation grant programs. At least 70% of Virginians support public spending to preserve forestland and farmland — but Virginia lacks dedicated funding. PEC supports sustained funding of Virginia’s conservation goals and programs so localities can improve accessibility to outdoor recreation programs and service underserved communities.
Land Use & Local Authority
Due to the severe energy and housing challenges facing Virginia, we expect to see attempts to remove local-level decision making this session. Rural lands across Virginia will be key to the build-out of utility-scale solar to meet Virginia’s energy goals, but maintaining local authority over the approval of these large-scale solar projects is critical to ensure that projects are consistent with local plans and protect local resources.
Virginia suffers a shortage of affordable homes near jobs and services, which is why we believe it is critical to incentivize infill housing in accessible areas, especially around transit. Removing local authority around siting of housing can inadvertently encourage sprawl — exacerbating transportation concerns and access to jobs and services, while potentially doing little to increase affordable housing supply.
How to Get Involved
With the many issues and opportunities expected throughout the upcoming session, PEC staff will testify before the General Assembly, speak about budget priorities and amendments, and alert you to opportunities to engage. While this legislative session unfolds over the course of the next 30 days, you can take action right now:
Join us for Data Center Lobby Day: Monday, Jan. 20
The Virginia Data Center Reform Coalition is urging state lawmakers to take action on the unchecked, exponential growth of data centers in Virginia.
This free event Jan. 20 is your chance to lobby with fellow advocates in your district for a smarter development approach to data centers in our state. No lobbying experience is required! You will be led in your meetings by a lobbying expert, and the Coalition will host a prep meeting to answer questions and go over what we are asking lawmakers to support.
Free bus transportation is provided from Haymarket, along with coffee and a snack on the road. The bus departs at 5:30 a.m. on the day of the event and will return around 4:30 p.m. Upon registration, please indicate if you would like to reserve a seat on the bus. Space is limited!
Lunch will be provided in Richmond. The Lobby Day is a free event, and donations are welcome!
Make Use of Virginia Conservation Network’s Resources
Conservation Lobby Day: Wednesday, Jan. 22
VCN’s annual Conservation Lobby Day Jan. 22 is your chance to lobby with fellow advocates in your district for environmental action that matters most to you. You’ll get tips on how to lobby and have meetings with VA General Assembly members on issues that matter for the environment.
Our 2025 Common Agenda
VCN has compiled some top-level priorities in the Our 2025 Common Agenda Environmental Briefing Book, the most comprehensive overview of Virginia’s environmental policy landscape. The Piedmont Environmental Council and the Coalition for Smarter Growth are proud to have co-authored seven papers on conservation, responsible development and clean energy!
Thanks as always for your attention to the critical policy issues happening at the state level. We’ll be sure to bring you more updates and ways to take action as session continues.
For now, I encourage you to get in touch with your delegate and senator early to let them know what issues are important to you. Also, sign up for our action alerts and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn throughout session!
If you have questions on any of these bills, or other things you hear coming out of Richmond, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.